Combination cleat and clip means for assembling collapsible containers

ABSTRACT

A combination cleat and clip means for interconnecting the sides of a collapsible container with the bottom or floor thereof, the cleat being secured to said bottom or floor and having a recess, the principal axis of which is parallel to the plane of said bottom or floor; the clip being secured to a surface of a wall, and having resiliently expandable means extending laterally from the plane of said wall and engaging said recess in such manner that said cleat is gripped on opposite sides thereof between said resiliently expandable means and a surface of said wall, to maintain said wall substantially at a right angle with respect to said bottom or floor. The invention has application to other structures, as for example the assembly of furniture and the like.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Julius B. Kupersmit 299 W. 12th St., New York, N.Y. 10014 [21] Appl. No. 857,838

[22] Filed Sept. 15, 1969 [45] Patented Ma /25,1971

[54] COMBINATION CLEAT AND CLIP MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs.

[ 52] US. Cl ..287/20.924, 217/13 [51] Int. Cl F16b 7/00 [50] Field of Search 287/189.36

(D), 20.924, 20.92 (C), 20.92 (D), 20.92 (DB); 312/263; 52/285, 489, 582; 211/177, 178; 108/1 11, 153; 217/12, 13', 220/7, 4 (Cursory) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,259,382 10/1941 lngels ..287/189.36(D) 2,522,097 9/1950 Cookson ..287/l89.36(D) 3,346,282 10/1967 Yarborough 52/285X FOREIGN PATENTS 637,828 4/1962 Italy 217/12 Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Waync L. Shedd AttorneyCharles E. Temko ABSTRACT: A combination cleat and clip means for interconnecting the sides of a collapsible container with the bottom or floor thereof, the cleat being secured to said bottom or floor and having a recess, the principal axis of which is parallel to the plane of said bottom or floor; the clip being secured to a surface of a wall, and having resiliently expandable means extending laterally from the plane of said wall and engaging said recess in such manner that said cleat is gripped on opposite sides thereof between said resiliently expandable means and a surface of said wall, to maintain said wall substantially at a right angle with respect to said bottom or floor. The invention has application to other structures, as for example the assembly of furniture and the like.

PATENTEU HAYES |97| COMBINATION CLEAT AND CLIP MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS This invention relates generally to the field of collapsible containers of the type disclosed in my prior U. 5. Pat. No. 3,452,346; granted June 24, l969, and more particularly to an improved means for interconnecting the sidewalls of such containers with a bottom or floor.

In those constructions in which the sidewalls are of appreciable thickness, so as not to be readily foldable with respect to the bottom or floor, it has been necessary to attach and detach, with each use, the sidewalls from the bottom member. Where a large number of such containers are involved, this operation involves substantial labor time, with added cost, and has been found, in some cases to be objectionable.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved construction, by means of which the sidewalls of the container may be conveniently attached to the bottom using a combination cleat and clip means which may be readily and selectively engaged and disengaged using only simple tools.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved cleat and clip means of the class described, which upon engagement, will align the sides of the container with respect to the bottom member at a proper angle.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved clip and cleat means which will not interfere with storage of the container, when the same has been disassembled and the component parts stacked for storage.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved interconnecting means of the class described, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a relatively low order, and which may be incorporated into existing constructions at very little added cost, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claimsv In the drawing, to. which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. I is a fragmentary view in perspective of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged end elevational view, corresponding to the lower right-hand portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, corresponding to that seen in FIG. 2, but showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a similar fragmentary elevational view showing a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view as seen from the upper portion of FIG. 1.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by reference character 10, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a base or pallet element 11 and a plurality of sidewalls I2 selectively engageable therewith.

The base or pallet element 11 may be as disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,346, and includes a plurality of transversely extending support members 14, 15 and 16 interconnected to the undersurface of a bottom or floor member 17 at a lower surface 18 thereof (see FIG. 2). The floor member 17 is bounded by an upper surface 19, and side surfaces 20.

Disposed parallel to the side surfaces 20 and on an area of the upper surface 19 abutting the same are elongated cleat members 21. As best seen in FIG. 2, each cleat member is bounded by a lower surface 22, an outer surface 23, an upper surface 24 and an inner surface 25. An angularly disposed camming surface 26 interconnects the upper and inner surfaces. A horizontal surface 27 and vertical surface 28 defines a recess 29, the principal longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the upper surface 19 of the floor member 17. Most conveniently, the cleat members 21 are maintained on the surface 24 by screw means 30, either as a sole means, or in conjunction with glue (not shown).

The sidewalls 12 are preferably of multi-ply corrugated construction are bounded by an inner surface 31, an outer surface 32, an upper edge 33, side edges 34 and a lower edge 35. These are abuttable with each other in well-known manner, and may employ folds 36 or other suitable interconnecting means.

Again referring to FIG. 2, the sidewalls 12 are selectively interconnected with the pallet element 11 by a plurality of expandable clip elements 37 secured at periodic intervals thereto at the lower edges'35. The elements 37 are preferably formed as steel stampings, and include an outer wall member 38, a bottom wall member 39, and an inner wall member 40. Locking teeth 41 are cut from the plane of the inner and outer wall members and provide means for permanently securing the elements 37 to the walls 12.

Interconnected with the upper edge of the inner wall member 40 is a laterally extending member 42 having resilient tabs 42a, in turn interconnected by a fold at 43 to a downwardly extending member 44. Another bend portion 45 interconnects the member 44 with an inwardly extending member 46 having a terminal edge member 47. An offset portion 48 permits entry by a screwdriver or other suitable tool to effect easy release of the clip element from the cleat member 21.

In relatively untensed condition, the edge member 47 will be positioned to contact the camming surface 26 when the inner surface 31 of the wall abuts the outer surface 23 of the cleat member 21. Thus, during assembly, the wall is positioned above the floor member a distance of several inches, and after abutting the inner surface of the wall with the outer surface of the cleat, a downward motion serves to spread the clip element to a point where the edge member 47 passes the inner surface 25 and springs into position within the recess 29.

To disengage the wall from the floor member, a screwdriver may be inserted into the interstice formed by the offset portion 48, and a prying action exerted to cause the edge member 47 to be moved outwardly of the recess. Normally, this separation will be performed in a serial manner, in which a first clip is partially disengaged and allowed to rest upon the inner surface of the cleat, while a similar operation is performed on the next adjoining clip.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 3, and generally designated by reference character 56, the floor member 57 and cleat 58 are similar to those of the first embodiment. The sidewall 59 is of wooden construction, rather than corrugated board, and is bounded by an outer surface 60 and an inner surface 61. The clip element 62 is secured to the wall 59 by a nail or rivet 63, and lies entirely inside the wall. A first vertical wall 64 interconnects with an upper wall 65, and a second vertical wall 66, in turn interconnected with a horizontally disposed lower wall 67, having fold edge 68 and folded strip 69. A wood spacing member 70 includes upper and inner surfaces 71 and 72, respectively, which are provided with a reinforcing member 73, the bolt 63 penetrating the entire device.

In the third embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, and generally designated by reference character 76, parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment have been designated by similar reference characters with the additional prefix "1". The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the elimination of the locking teeth 41, and the substitution of a rivet 77 performing the same function as the bolt 63 in the second embodiment.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. Improved means for assembling collapsible containers including first and second generally planar parts detachably interconnected at abutting edges thereof, at substantially a mutual right angle, said means comprising: a cleat attached to a surface of said first part in the area of an abutting edge, said cleat including means'forming a recess having a principal axis and a planar surface substantially perpendicular to said last mentioned surface; a resilient clip attached to said second part, in an area adjacent to an abutting edge thereof, said clip including means extending laterally from a surface of said last mentioned part, and selectively engaging said recess in said cleat, in which condition, said surface of said second part is,

juxtaposed to a planar surface of said cleat; said clip including 

1. Improved means for assembling collapsible containers including first and second generally planar parts detachably interconnected at abutting edges thereof, at substantially a mutual right angle, said means comprising: a cleat attached to a surface of said first part in the area of an abutting edge, said cleat including means forming a recess having a principal axis and a planar surface substantially perpendicular to said last mentioned surface; a resilient clip attached to said second part, in an area adjacent to an abutting edge thereof, said clip including means extending laterally from a surface of said last mentioned part, and selectively engaging said recess in said cleat, in which condition, said surface of said second part is juxtaposed to a planar surface of said cleat; said clip including a first member extending laterally from the plane of said second part, a second member disposed at an angle with respect to said first member, and a third member lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first member; said cleat including a camming surface slidably engaging with said third member to spread said clip to the width of said cleat prior to engagement with said recess, said second member having an offset portion forming an interstice for the insertion of a tool to spread said clip to facilitate disengagement from said cleat. 